Guiding Question: What are minerals?

2 Learning Objective Students will define mineral. Students will identify and describe some minerals found in Earth’s crust.

Daily Challenge: What is the difference between an element and a mineral? What is the difference between a mineral and a rock?

4 Key Term mineral (MIHN-uhr-uhl)

5 Earth’s Crust The crust is the outer layer of Earth. It is made up of large chunks of solid rock and smaller pieces of rock, sand, and soil. Sand and soil are rock that has been broken into small pieces. All the materials in Earth’s crust are made of elements and compounds.

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7 Natural Solids A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid formed from elements or compounds and having a definite chemical makeup and regular atomic structure. All minerals are inorganic. A mineral may be either an element or a compound. Each mineral has a definite chemical makeup.

8 Element or Compound? Gold and silver are examples of minerals that are made up of only one element. Most minerals are compounds (a combination of elements). Halite is made up of sodium and chlorine. MineralFormula goldAu silverAg haliteNaCl

9 Rock-Forming Minerals Most rock-forming minerals are compounds. In a rock, the minerals are usually found as mixtures. However, the substances do not chemically combine. They retain their original properties. In the case of rocks, each mineral retains its color, texture, and chemical makeup.

10 Metal Minerals Minerals that can be recovered for use are called mineral resources. Aluminum, iron, copper, and silver are some metal minerals. Metals are useful because they can be stretched, flattened, hammered and molded without breaking. They are used to make tools, machinery, and steel girders. Metals in Earth’s crust are found in many places around the world.

11 Checking Concepts 1.Halite is made up mostly of _______ and _____. 2.Gold is both an element and a _______. 3.About three quarters of Earth’s crust is made up of oxygen and _________.

The End

13 Answers 1.Sodium, chlorine 2.Mineral 3.Silicon